Main Findings

There were 17,324 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 30 June 2013.

This is an increase of 1,090 FTE police officers (+6.7%) from the 16,234 police officers recorded at 31 March 2007.

Police officer numbers have decreased by 172 FTE officers in the last quarter from 31 March 2013 (-1.0%), and have decreased by 49 FTE officers in the last year from 30 June 2012 (-0.3%).

These are the first police officer statistics under the new policing structures. Police Scotland and Scottish Police Authority went live on April 1 2013, replacing the previous eight legacy forces, the Scottish Police Services Authority and the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency.

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff.